Same-sex marriage wouldn't bring about end of the world

The Taiwan Religious Groups Caring Family Alliance, an umbrella organization representing various religious institutions, recently held a press conference to state their opposition to legalizing same-sex marriage and their determination to guard traditional values, and announced a petition against same-sex marriage.

According to the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, advocates for legalizing same-sex marriage constitute an international movement toward sexual liberation and promiscuity which threatens the very existence of traditional morality.

The alliance also stated that legalizing same-sex marriage would enlarge the homosexual population and legitimize homosexuality in the eyes of children, bringing severe consequences.

That these anti-gay marriage groups have the freedom to state an opinion cannot guarantee their attention to basic logic. Whether you believe homosexuality is a genetic condition or a personal choice, legalizing same-sex marriage can do as much to create more homosexual people as installing Braille can lead to blindness, but it does have the potential to lend dignity to the lives of these individuals and reduce the public and private discrimination which they currently face.

The Taiwanese media, in their selective attention to homosexual identity even in stories about drug use and sexual conduct, must bear responsibility for shaping these discriminatory stereotypes.

In reality, however, a person's sexual orientation has not been definitively linked to any difference in the likelihood of that person committing a crime. On the other hand, same-sex marriage remains strictly forbidden in countries like India, in which sexual crimes such as the gang-rape and murder of a 23-year old woman still occur with astonishing frequency. It may be difficult to justify a regression toward heteronormative society in light of incidents such as these which simultaneously induce the spectator's revulsion and shame.

Democratic Progressive Party lawmaker Yu Mei-nu's (尤美女) proposal of an amendment to legalize same-sex marriage and the Taiwan Alliance to Promote Civil Partnership Rights' fight for family diversity both represent an inheritance of the fight for radical equality across all sexes and orientations.

The statements made by opponents of same-sex marriage, on the other hand, betray an understanding of homosexuality as based solely on physical sexuality, to the exclusion of other personal attributes. If people can have the right to choose what religion they want to be involved in, they should also have the right to choose who they want to love.

According to a survey recently conducted by the Taiwan Alliance to Promote Civil Partnership Rights (TAPCPR), 53 percent of Taiwanese people support the legalization of same-sex marriage, a two-fold increase over a decade ago, while 37 percent of people oppose the proposition.

The change in attitude relates to international trends regarding same-sex marriage. Since 2001, over a dozen countries, including the United Kingdom, have passed bills to legalize marriage between same-sex couples, and the U.S. Supreme Court also ruled this June in favor of gay rights, recognizing married gay couples' eligibility for federal benefits.

Legalizing same-sex marriage will be a huge step forward in the fight for universal equality akin to ending apartheid. However, the attainment of equality for same-sex couples, like the fight for racial equality, will require broader acknowledgement that those of different sexuality, just as those of different skin color, deserve the same opportunities in society as long as their choices do not harm others.

Marriage is an institution created not only to legally bind people of opposite gender to cement their love, but also to perpetuate humanity. How does same sex marriage fulfill that latter kind of role in society? Discrimination is unjustified if you distinguish an element from a group where it should properly belong. But when it is not in the same category, the discrimination is justified. Why is it that many gay people want to destroy the marriage institution that we know and which has long been established? Why could they not create their own category of relationship if they want to be bound in such a partnership? What many gay people want is for society to accept their distorted sense of sexual orientation as normal. Given the design of their body, how can that ever be? If they want to be respected, they should not distort the purpose for which their Creator has designed them. They should also realize that they are not the only ones with right to speak up what is in their conscience. So they should not blame others who do not agree with their views.

Your editorial staff in claiming that legalising same sex marriage is akin to ending apartheid must be the most laughable statement of your history. Apartheid is the inhuman treatment rendered to ordinary human beings because of colour of skin. These are otherwise humans who want to lead a natural life as we know it. Those preferring same sex for marriage use their bodies to play unnatural roles to satisfy their abnormal lust. Your otherwise worthy newspaper sadly undermine the seriousness and cruelty of apartheid when you seek to lower it to the same level as this western sick ideology that a man can be husband and/or wife role to another man and a woman for that matter to another. Let us not deceive ourselves. You reap what you sow. Feed your brains with perversions and you destroy yourselves.

Why is it that heterosexual people get so upset when we talk about gay marriage? Heteros don't even respect marriage nowadays: they fool around, get divorced, do swinging and what else, but as soon as gays want to get married, the straights see marriage as exclusive to themselves. I have this firm believe that straight people are afraid that gay people will manage being married better than hetero-people.

If marriage is so sacred maybe you should make divorce illegal. All the orphans in the world have not been put there by gay couples. It is so sad that people of religion will always be the first one to throw a stone. May you not judge? We can start an argument that could last a very long time. Bottom line is like it or not, the world is changing and one day most places will recognize the union between two people who love each other regardless of their sexual orientation. Taiwan could be the first Asian country to legalize it. Go Taiwan.

Whoever thinks that same-sex marriage will "deteriorate" family or "harm" children needs a reality check as same-sex couples deserve to be respected and should be treated with dignity just like opposite-sex couples. We no longer live in the Middle Ages, anybody who shares a distaste for LGBT individuals will be more than welcomed to relocate to countries like Uganda, Saudi Arabia, Iran, or Russia.

frankthiart@ wrote:If marriage is so sacred maybe you should make divorce illegal. All the orphans in the world have not been put there by gay couples. It is so sad that people of religion will always be the first one to throw a stone. May you not judge? We can start an argument that could last a very long time. Bottom line is like it or not, the world is changing and one day most places will recognize the union between two people who love each other regardless of their sexual orientation. Taiwan could be the first Asian country to legalize it. Go Taiwan.

Even among people who have had same sex marriage, there have been divorces already. So heterosexual couples have no monopoly of divorce. The claim that homosexuals could be more faithful partners is plain and simple speculation. Your view here seeks to justify a mistake by the mistakes of others. The simple question is why do you want to appropriate for your self what is not meant for you? Why don't you create an institution for yourselves and not destroy an institution that others of a different category have developed?

"Even among people who have had same sex marriage, there have been divorces already. So heterosexual couples have no monopoly of divorce. The claim that homosexuals could be more faithful partners is plain and simple speculation."

Maybe you should read what was said closer, the question is that if marriage is so sacred why are there so many divorces? If it’s about procreation why are there orphans from couples who get married then divorced so casually? Sorry, but this whole argument about the sanctity of marriage was made in the US and it still rings false. The areas of the US that consider themselves the most religious are the areas with the highest divorce rates. If marriage was about procreation why do many couples marry but never have children? The arguments are all the same but in the end mean little if the people who they are supposedly meant for don't follow them.

lightcrusaderjr@ wrote:Marriage is an institution created not only to legally bind people of opposite gender to cement their love, but also to perpetuate humanity. How does same sex marriage fulfill that latter kind of role in society? Discrimination is unjustified if you distinguish an element from a group where it should properly belong. But when it is not in the same category, the discrimination is justified. Why is it that many gay people want to destroy the marriage institution that we know and which has long been established? Why could they not create their own category of relationship if they want to be bound in such a partnership? What many gay people want is for society to accept their distorted sense of sexual orientation as normal. Given the design of their body, how can that ever be? If they want to be respected, they should not distort the purpose for which their Creator has designed them. They should also realize that they are not the only ones with right to speak up what is in their conscience. So they should not blame others who do not agree with their views.

This is not about a different view, it's about people celebrating their love. it's been done in many countries and it is going well.You talk about continuing the human race.. What about people who are infertile? Should they not be allowed to marry?marriage gives strength to unions and allows people to celebrate their love!Don't like gay marriage? Don't get involved!Gay marriage doesn't interfere in your life so back off!As for the creator argument.. Not everyone holds your backwards religious views, let people live according to their views.You say we impose our views on you?! Funny because you are the one trying to stop us from getting married! So who is imposing whose views? Me getting married does not interfere in your life in anyway, you stopping me from getting married does interfere on mine however... Ridiculous, read a science book instead of your old hate filled religious dogma!Grow up

Upwell@ wrote:Your editorial staff in claiming that legalising same sex marriage is akin to ending apartheid must be the most laughable statement of your history. Apartheid is the inhuman treatment rendered to ordinary human beings because of colour of skin. These are otherwise humans who want to lead a natural life as we know it. Those preferring same sex for marriage use their bodies to play unnatural roles to satisfy their abnormal lust. Your otherwise worthy newspaper sadly undermine the seriousness and cruelty of apartheid when you seek to lower it to the same level as this western sick ideology that a man can be husband and/or wife role to another man and a woman for that matter to another. Let us not deceive ourselves. You reap what you sow. Feed your brains with perversions and you destroy yourselves.

This is about people celebrating their love. It’s been done in many countries and it is going well.I didn't choose to get my body involved in what you call perversions. It just happened! Also why are you so obsessed with sex? Marriage is mostly about love, not sex, but seems you view it as only sex! We gay people were arrested and tortured and killed under apartheid and Nazi Germany, so the comparison was perfect!Don't like gay marriage? Don't get involved!Gay marriage doesn't interfere in your life so back off!And we don't use our bodies because of lust.. WE DO IT BECAUSE OF LOVE!! Something an idiot like you can't understand! Love is the most beautiful thing in this world, we have sex to celebrate and express our feelings. If you don't like gay sex, don't do it! No one is inviting you to participate!Not everyone holds your stupid religious views, let people live according to their views.You are the one trying to stop us from getting married! Me getting married does not interfere in your life in anyway, you stopping me from getting married does interfere on mine however... Ridiculous, read a science book instead of your old hate filled religious dogma!Grow upI have fed my heart with love and my brain with knowledge, I feel great for having a wonderful family and many friends, I am happy and I always wish for other people’s happiness.And guess what? I knew I liked boys since I was 5 years old.. I was born this way and I don't care, I'm happy, I'm not hurting anyone, that's all I care about.What about you? Aren't your words and actions hurting others?Oh well.. Ignorance is a choice, love is not a choice. You choose to stay ignorant and you live in misery seeing other people being happy. I didn't choose love, but I embraced it and now I am happy

This correspondent Manuel appears unable to decently discuss a matter of interest. He brands anyone having a different view, ignorant, an idiot, needs to grow up, religiously dogmatic etc etc. Probably he would manhandle me if I were present before him. Such was his reaction. I have had countless discussion with many others including a close relation of mine who live the life of what has been discussed. But never was there the need to belittle others. His reaction speaks volume of the way he thinks love should be portrayed. Sad isn't it. No wonder the world has become fanatical with threats of terror and beheadings !!!!

Upwell@ wrote:This correspondent Manuel appears unable to decently discuss a matter of interest. He brands anyone having a different view, ignorant, an idiot, needs to grow up, religiously dogmatic etc etc. Probably he would manhandle me if I were present before him. Such was his reaction. I have had countless discussion with many others including a close relation of mine who live the life of what has been discussed. But never was there the need to belittle others. His reaction speaks volume of the way he thinks love should be portrayed. Sad isn't it. No wonder the world has become fanatical with threats of terror and beheadings !!!!

I've been tired you know? When you go around saying we can't marry you think you don't insult us? You do! Strongly! I grew up listening that I was a freak and sick, but I am not. As a child I was suicidal due to society's hatred, I grew up and found a better place and thank god my family supported me!You say I am throwing insults! And what have you people been throwing by saying we commit perversions and hat we didn't suffer such harsh treatments under apartheid?! Like I said.. read a book, and you will see the treatment we suffered and still suffer! So instead of focusing on why I am mad, why not see your own hateful comments? Why not see how you've described my kind?We are people, we deserve rights! Human rights are not up for discussion or debate! No majority has the right to violate the rights of the minority.Or should we legalize slavery once more? Idiotic indeed, no need to waste my breath on you.You've made your mind that I am inferior human being with less rights than you!Geez straight people are always throwing their sexuality to my face, always kissing in public, talking about their wives and kids... Why can't they keep it behind doors? Do you ever hear these words? No! But I have heard them! And I am done! We will never suffer again the Nazi prosecutions, we won't be killed again and insulted! I wouldn’t tolerate a racist person talking, therefore I won't tolerate a homophobic bigot either! Simple as that!